CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL ARRIVES ON LOAN

Brighton & Hove Albion have signed Canadian international defender Sam Adekugbe on a season-long loan from MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps, subject to international clearance.

The left-back arrives after impressing manager Chris Hughton during a training spell with Albion before last Christmas, and ahead of the current MLS campaign. He will begin the season with the under-21 squad.

Hughton said, "We know all about Sam and his qualities from his time with us last December.

"He initially began with our under-21 group, but quickly showed he was capable of stepping up to train with our first team.

"He will join the under-21 squad and his challenge, along with others, is to make that step up into the first-team squad."

Canadian international Adekugbe, who was born in the UK and lived in London and Manchester before moving to Canada when he was eleven, has dual citizenship.

He joined Whitecaps in 2011, and signed a senior contract with the club in 2013, making his MLS debut in October that year in a 3-0 win over Colorado Rapids.

After representing Canada at youth level, Adekugbe made his international debut at senior level in 2015, and has won three caps, featuring in two friendly matches and a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Belize.